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Summary

A former extractive pit, probably a marl pit of medieval to 19th century date, was visible on aerial photographs of the 1980s onwards as an irregularly shaped shallow earthwork on the south-west facing slopes to the north-east of Merrifield House, Awliscombe parish.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST10SW/74

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MARL PIT (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1840 AD (Between))
• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1982 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV110585.

Des=os 6"(1890)58sw.

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Maps and Apportionments (Website). SDV349463.

Plot 142 is listed as an orchard.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

The plot is depicted as an orchard and partial pit, annotated as Old Marl Pit.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2450-2451 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

The plot was enclosed by a field boundary and remained planted as an orchard.

Ordnance Survey, 1982, OS/82218 V, OS/8221 114-1150 V 1150 28-AUG-1982 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359504.

The plot boundary and all tree planting had been cleared and broad, shallow earthwork pit was visible.

Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit, 1992 - 1993, Blackdown Hills Survey Archive (Archive - Survey). SDV324187.

'old marlpits' marked on os 1st edition 6" map.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

A former extractive pit, probably a marl pit of medieval to 19th century date, was visible on aerial photographs of the 1980s onwards as an irregularly shaped shallow earthwork on the south-west facing slopes to the north-east of Merrifield House, Awliscombe parish.
The visible earthwork measures up to circa 55 metres across and corresponds with an orchard enclosure depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch Map. The eastern boundary of the orchard is symbolised in hachures to indicate a sharp break in slope and annotated Old Marl Pit. This plot, Plot 142, is listed on the Tithe Apportionments for Awliscombe as an orchard.
This supports the interpretation that the extractive use of the pit predated the mid-19th century. The pit is one of many in this area located on mudstone bedrock, which also supports an interpretation as marl extraction pit. Marl was commonly extracted to improve soil quality or provide material for cob buildings from the medieval period to the 18th and 19th century but many marl pits were redundant by the time of the Tithe Survey, the earthworks frequently utilised as orchards or copses.
The orchard remained planted into the 1940s but was cleared of trees in the second half of the 20th century.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV110585	Migrated Record:
SDV324187	Archive - Survey: Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit. 1992 - 1993. Blackdown Hills Survey Archive. Blackdown Hills Survey Archive. A4 Unbound.
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV349463	Website: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Maps and Apportionments. http://devon.gov.uk. Website.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2450-2451 11-APR-1947.
SDV359463	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2016-2018. The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:2
SDV359504	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1982. OS/82218 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/8221 114-1150 V 1150 28-AUG-1982. [Mapped feature: #92735 ]

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

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